University Changes Policies To Prevent Gay Couples From Getting Married On Campus Grounds

Rather than allow newly-legal same-sex marriages on its campus, Loyola University Chicago has formalized a policy so restrictive it excludes any gay couple -- and all but a few straight ones -- from having their wedding at school facilities.

Ahead of the Illinois same-sex marriage law's June 1 effective date, the school adopted a new policy enacted just last December: Only Catholic-sanctioned weddings between a man and a woman (who must have ties to Loyola or at least be active members of a Catholic church) may get married at the school's Madonna della Strada Chapel. The policy forbids all other ceremonies -- religious or otherwise -- at campus facilities, including the popular Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills. Receptions on campus facilities are still allowed.

Two Illinois counties (including Cook County, which encompasses Loyola) have begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as of Friday.

Loyola's move on same-sex marriage comes several months after a student filed a petition urging the Jesuit Catholic university to allow weddings between same-sex couples on campus.

"It's really disheartening," Christine Irvine, the Loyola junior who started the petition, told the Windy City Times. "It's a sign of the non-acceptance and non-tolerance of the LGBT students on campus ... a sign of disrespect of our love compared to our peers."

Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of the LGBT Catholic organization DignityUSA, told The Huffington Post Loyola's policy is consistent with actions by other Catholic institutions in response to same-sex marriage legalization.

"As gay marriage comes to more and more places, the Catholic landscape gets more complex," Duddy-Burke said. "Bishops reach out to churches and give these kinds of orders: Priests are told not to do this, not to officiate and not even be present at same-sex weddings."

University Changes Policies To Prevent Gay Couples From Getting Married On Campus Grounds

Gay Marriage Celebrations

Gay Marriage Celebrations

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Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill

EDITORIAL USE ONLYLynne Featherstone MP (left centre), Ben Summerskill, CEO of Stonewall (centre) and Jochanan Senf, European Director of Ben &amp; Jerry's (right centre) with a one metre tall rainbow wedding cake that was created by experimental baker Alice Gasson wedding cake, made for Ben &amp; Jerry&Otilde;s and Stonewall, in front of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, ahead of the Third Reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill in the House of Lords.